Hal doesn’t know my father.And he doesn’t know me.
There are too many thoughts in my head.
I replaced the snowflakes with pink and red heart lights.They’re not what’s keeping me up.They’re not helping either.
I roll off my bed and onto the floor, searching for the plug behind my headboard.I unplug something.Not the string lights.I search for the other plug and finally yank it out.
“Sadie?”
I nearly hit my head, rolling out from under my bed.
“Gavin!Why are you in my room?”
“Why are you under your bed?”His voice went from urgent to confused.
I kneel, resting my arms on the mattress.“What do you want?”I huff, blowing stray strands out of my face.
“The Holisters’ house is on fire.”
I jump to my feet.“Are you kidding?”
He doesn’t stick around to convince me.He tosses my jacket at me and leaves.
“Mom and Dad are already there,” he calls behind him as I chase him down the stairs.
“Where’s… your girlfriend?”I ask, shoving my arms in my coat and tripping to put boots on my feet when we reach the kitchen.I figured she’d be as curious as we are even if she doesn’t know our neighbors.
“Sent her home on the train after the party.”
I stare at him.“Seriously?”
He gives a one-shouldered shrug and holds the door open.
“How are we related?”I ask, exiting the house into the freezing night.The sub-zero temperature captures my breath as soon as I inhale.Flurries drift from the cloudy sky, which is darker than usual.Even at two in the morning.
Smoke.
Billows of dark, swirling smoke can be seen over the tops of the houses before we reach the sidewalk.The air smells of burnt rubber.And the flames light up the street as we run toward the burning house.
Flashing red lights create abstract shadows when the fire trucks come to a stop in the middle of the street.The entire neighborhood has shown up for this.Police officers direct everyone to stand on the other side of the street.
My hand cups my mouth, not just to block out the smoke and the acrid smell, but because I cannot believe that Livvy’s house is completely ablaze.Wafts of heat burst from the inferno.Glass shatters.And boards crack and collapse.
We find my parents talking to one of the police officers.I stand a distance away.But Gavin goes over because suddenly, he decides to be an adult.Our neighbors are huddled in clusters with arms around each other, their faces aghast.I can see the horror in their eyes, imagining this happening to one of their homes.
Past the crowd, seated on the curb, alone, is Livvy.I search for her parents, but I can’t find them anywhere.Not talking to a firefighter or a police officer.Not among the horrified faces.And nowhere near their distraught daughter.
I approach her with care.She’s bent over, her face buried in her folded arms.Her body shakes with each sob.Despite the tension that’s evolved between us for what feels like our entire lives, I can’t leave her alone.Not like this.
When I get closer, I realize she’s not crying.She’s laughing—hysterically.
“Livvy?”
She raises her head; tears streak smoke-covered cheeks.The laughter trickles.“What do you want?”
“Are you okay?”I cringe at my own words.Dumb question.
She doesn’tlookokay.Her hair is wild, dark blond waves around her head.When did she cut her hair?She’s in pajama pants, a sweatshirt sliding off her shoulders with only a tank top beneath.Her feet are bare and covered in soot.She must be freezing.Except she’s not even shivering.
